Journey with my Creator: School Holiday Part 7

No, I'm not going to write Part 8 anymore though the school holiday has extended. This would be the last blog on School Holiday.

We were all so happy to be back in Subang. Staying in Malacca is wonderful, but Subang has a special place in our hearts. This is where Andrew grew up. This is where Elyse and Erwyn were born. Needless to say, this is where we spent precious years with my mother in law before her passing.

The house was very dusty. I repeat: very, very dusty. The last trip my father in law (not us) came back was two months ago. So, my father in law and I washed up the entire house while Andrew took the children to the nearby McDonald for a snack. Well, it is only 1 min away.

We went to JM Nasi Bariani for lunch. This is Elyse's favourite food. Amazing huh?! My super fussy eater likes nasi bariani. As for dinner, we headed to Ikea. Ohh... how we have forgotten the crowd in Ikea during such holidays. There was no tables available at all. People needed to wait next to tables until others have finished their meals. Of course, some took their own sweet time. Andrew always love the salmon in Ikea. It is the cheapest salmon he can find.

Their tauhu bakar - not excellent, but reasonably good

plain nasi bariani - Elyse's favourite

The very reason we visited Ikea was to get Erwyn a soft toy mouse. We bought one for Elyse a long long time ago. She has many bedside soft toys. Many come and go but not with this soft toy mouse. One afternoon, Erwyn asked to buy for him a soft toy mouse as well. He was so upset that we couldn't get him one immediately, he cried. Daddy, who has a soft spot in this area, gave in and promised the next time we come back to KL we'd buy one for him. So, we bought two - one for Erwyn and another one for Elyse. Now, my children are sleeping with 3 mice every night.

Saturday morning we had our breakfast at Hassan, used to be one of our favourite roti canai shop. However, the roti is no longer as crispy as before. The dhal has a funny taste. The shop looks a bit run down, in fact. I doubt we will come back again.

We visited a few friends this trip. It was so lovely to hang out with them, even for a short time. The demands of ministry, the time constraint associated with raising young children and the constant moving the last few years have caused many friendship to drift apart. For those of you who stick with us through thick and thin, we are ever grateful. Nevertheless, we understand and learn to let go as we move on. However, long or short, every friendship enriches our lives one way or another.

It's Sunday and we've decided to visit Metro Tabernacle this time. There were traffic wardens everywhere as we drove into the church compound. Greeters were stationed in every corner of the church, ever ready to greet you with a warm handshake and a big smile.

Erwyn described this church as a 'hotel church' which I find it quite approriate. The cleanliness, the spaciousness, the lightings - a typical modern church design. Nothing too elaborate, simple yet comfortable. I was so delighted there were four tambourine dancers with their white satin dress on the stage. Nowadays not many of them dance on a weekly basis. Especially not with this traditional white satin dress. They played tambourine for the first 2 fast worship songs, followed by flags for the next 3 slow worship songs. I love the drummer. He was fantastic. I enjoyed how the second keyboardist played the accompaniment. However, what really caught my attention was the shofar blower. There were 4 men in their mid 40s' or early 50s'. When they were not blowing the shofar, they sang along with hands lifted up.

Elyse went to the Sunday School and she thoroughly enjoyed it; but not my boy. He only stayed for a little while. Finally we brought him back to the main hall. The sermon was delivered by one of the assistant pastors. To be honest, I find the sermon a bit long. I was losing attention/interest by the second half of the sermon. Oops, not a very good listener am I.

Since we are not familiar with Batu Caves (where the church is located), we headed back to Subang Parade for a nice western food - TGIF. It has been a loooong while since we stepped into this restaurant. I ordered my favourite Jack Daniel's chicken, Andrew ordered his medium rare beef steak, and Ah Gong had his rack of rib. The children had fish and chicken fingers with fries on the house. Over the years, the portion served in TGIF has shrunk and the taste has not lived up to its expectation. What a disappointment!

We did not visit many shopping malls this trip due to the shortage of time. I was rather upset to find that the three shopping malls that we visited have taken down their Christmas deco. But overall, we had a good time back in Subang as a family.

Check this out! Hamleys at 1Utama is the latest toy store in town.

You are allowed to play and explore the toys

My boy was glued to this Thomas and Friends play area

Even the man of the house found something he is interested... ehh, trying to change your profession to a magician??!

Look at all these cute little dolls! I always like the story of Camelot, Merlin and Arthur.

Not only are you allowed to explore the toys, there are booths set up and staff assist you to have one of a kind experience. My little princess had her chance to try out nail art.